Currier's Shaving Knife c. 1940

Oscar Bluhme painted this Currier's Shaving Knife. The colours are muted, warm browns and creams, giving it a soft and inviting feel. I love how the whole thing is carefully depicted, the worn wood and rusted metal brought to life with delicate brushstrokes. It feels like Bluhme is not just painting an object, but preserving a piece of history, a tool that tells a story. I can imagine the artist studying this object, feeling its weight and texture, and wanting to capture every detail on paper. There's a real sense of care in how the light catches on the handle and the blade. And that tiny figure in the corner operating a similar tool is just perfection. Bluhme makes me think of other artists who find beauty in everyday things, like Morandi and his bottles, or Fairfield Porter.